Many of you know that I've lost a significant amount of weight since last summer. This morning, as I was getting ready for work, for the first time since I started that journey, I looked in the mirror and saw how far I still need to go rather than how far I've come.
When I realized what I was thinking, I deliberately stopped myself and drudged up memories of how I looked and felt BEFORE. My attitude changed immediately. My commitment to continue the short distance I still had to go was renewed.
I wish I had a life size blow up of that BEFORE to paste on the wall behind the mirror so I can see the four extra inches sticking out on each side of me when I stand up straight. That would be a great daily reminder of the wild success (it's wild to me, at least) I've had so far.
It's easy to get tired of the struggle before it's finished. Don't allow yourself or your clients to do that. A good mentoring technique is to have a little ritual each time you have contact with your mentee. Begin each conversation or encounter by having them recount and celebrate a success, no matter how small. And then end each encounter by extracting a pledge to anticipate the next success by reinforcing the behavior that got them the success in the first place.
There's a quote that goes somethng like this: You won't reach what's in front of you if you keep looking behind you. Encourage forward focus. It's key to success.
Good Morning (by the way Laurie I've enjoyed checking in too!)
ReplyDeleteI did something 'stupid' - while cleaning up the backyard grabbed piles of weeds,etc - scooped them up to toss. Not realizing the pile was full of poison sumac/ivy! Before long - you know the story .. I was full of blisters and spots.
Finally went to the Urgent care Monday out of desparation but while waiting to see the Dr was reading a magazine. I came across a good quote
Contentment is NOT the fullfillment of what you want... BUT the realization of how much you already have.
Blessings to you!
Sorry about the poison ivy, Judy. But there's opportunity everywhere, isn't there? If not for the poison ivy, you wouldn't have been able to find and share the great quote about contentment. That dovetails very well with the last post I wrote on www.thinking2stepsahead.com last weekend which was entitled, probably not coincidentally, Contentment.
ReplyDeleteThanks for checking in and posting.